Establishing neonatal networks: the reality

Benchmarking care for very low birthweight infants in Ireland and Northern Ireland

“…We believe that the wide variability in outcomes seen between centres in Ireland lends support to the creation of more formalised perinatal (maternity and neonatal) clinical networks as developed in some parts of the UK since 200418 and outlined in the recent report on “The future of maternity and gynaecology services in Ireland” produced by the Irish Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 19…”

Epidemiology of UK neonatal infections: the neonIN infection surveillance network

“…NICUs without surgery demonstrated an increased incidence over the same period (P=0.041). These opposing trends are intriguing and require further analysis; one possible explanation is the transition of the UK hospital system to a ‘network-based’ system from 2004 to 2007 32. This resulted in reduced neonatal admissions of infants <27 weeks in LNUs and a corresponding increase in admission rates of these very premature babies to the associated NICUs within the same networks 32.…”

“…These opposing trends are intriguing and require further analysis; one possible explanation is the transition of the UK hospital system to a ‘network-based’ system from 2004 to 2007 32. This resulted in reduced neonatal admissions of infants <27 weeks in LNUs and a corresponding increase in admission rates of these very premature babies to the associated NICUs within the same networks 32. This hypothesis may be supported by the observation that there was a trend towards a reduction in the proportion of infants <27 weeks gestation in LNUs over the study period (P=0.083).…”

Quality of neonatal care and outcome

“…Further contribution to a recent national movement of quality improvement in neonatal care culminated in the setting up of clinically managed neonatal networks22 and the establishment of the National Neonatal Audit Programme 14. More recently CEMACH conducted a neonatal enquiry into the care of term babies of mothers with diabetes, which is expected to bring changes to practice nationally 23.…”